Bkerke meeting: Rival Christian parties agree they should meet again

The final statement of the Maronite meeting held at Bkerke patriarchate today stressed that the quadripartite committee will continue working in coordination with the different political factions to reach an electoral law that guarantees a just representation.

Among the meeting’s participants: Kataeb leader former President Amin Gemayel, Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun, El Marada leader MP Sleiman Franjieh and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. Thirty five Maronite MPs and other figures concerned with elections were also present.

Following the meeting, MP Boutros Hajj said that the discussions did not go beyond the electoral law that needed to be discussed in depth.

“There will definitely be another meeting, because the issue of elections is a very wide and dangerous one”, he said.

For his part, Geagea said that the meeting went very well and included deep discussions, adding that the committee that was assigned with preparing for the meeting did its job very well.

“We put all the options on the table, we discussed the pros and cons, and according to the remarks made, we will correct our position, along with the other parties”, Geagea said.

MP Sami Gemayel said that the mere idea of holding this meeting under the patronage of Bkerke is a good thing, describing the discussions as “deep”.

“I hope that these discussions will be completed at another meeting until we reach a common law”.